Glass batch feeder

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a blanket type batch feeder for a glass melting furnace having one or more charger plates supported in such a manner that the angle of slope of the charger plate may be adjusted about an axis that substantially coincides with the lower edge of the sand seal at the rear of the supply chute. Also the charger plate may be swiveled about an axis normal to its surface to change its angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the furnace which it feeds.

United States Patent [1 1 Frazier et al.

[4 1 Dec. 25, 1973 GLASS BATCH FEEDER Inventors: John Earl Frazier;Clifford F.

Crouse, both of Washington, Pa.

Assignee: Frazier-Simplex, Inc., Washington,

Filed: Nov. 9, 1971 Appl. No.: 197,007

US. Cl 214/33, 65/335, 214/18 GD Int. Cl C03b 3/00 Field of Search...,214/18 GD, 23, 24,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Redshaw 214/23 1,917,247 7/1933Good 214/18 GD Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan Attorney-William H.Parmelee et a1.

[ 57 ABSTRACT There is disclosed a blanket type batch feeder for a glassmelting furnace having one or more charger plates supported in such amanner that the angle of slope of the charger plate may be adjustedabout an axis that substantially coincides with the lower edge of thesand seal at the rear of the supply chute. Also the charger plate may beswiveled about an axis normal to its surface to change its angle withrespect to the longitudinal axis of the furnace which it feeds.

15 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED DEC 25 I975 SHEET 3 OF 5 PATENTED05225 I973 SHEET 5 M 5 GLASS BATCH FEEDER This invention is for animproved batch feeder for charging batch material into a glass meltingfurnace.

In continuous glass furnaces a mix of materials from which the glass isproduced, commonly referred to as the batch, or batch material, isintroduced into one end ofa melting furnace and removed as melted glassfrom the opposite end, and there is maintained a nearly constant levelof molten glass within the furnace. At the feed end of the tank thebatch material is first melted in a melting zone and then there is azone of relatively quiescent flow where the newly-formed glass is fined"before it reaches the forehearth or opposite end from which the moltenglass is removed for formation into a finished product, typically, flatglass, containers, or glass fiber. The quality of the glass dependslargely on the uniformity of the melt and the efficiency of the furnacemay vary considerably with rate and manner of batch feeding.

The melting end of the furnace is equipped with a charging bay generallyreferred to as the doghouse and for use with a so-called blanket batchcharge feeder there is a suspended rear wall at the charging end of thefurnace that is set inwardly from the rear wall of the doghouse, leavinga kind of open or semiopen trough between the rear wall of the chargingbay and the inwardly-offset suspended wall, providing a doghouse acrossa substantial part of the full width of the furnace, sometimes as muchas 20 feet or more in a wide furnace.

A blanket feeder, for which this invention is an improvement, has longbeen known in the art and is shown in U. S. Pat. No. 2,272,2l7.Basically it comprises a wheeled structural frame that supports anelevated hopper, the width of which is substantially coextensive withthe width, of the doghouse or trough-like furnace area into whichmaterial is fed. The bottom of the hopper provides a chute thatterminates over a charger plate that is reciprocated toward and awayfrom the doghouse, its stroke being adjustable, but being of the orderof a few inches, possibly notv more than minutes, but usually less. Thisplate is supported in the frame at a level where it just clears the rearwall of the doghouse. As it moves forward beneath the chute, it carriesa layer or blanket of batch material with it and as the charger platepulls back the blanket is restrained from reverse travel by theso-called sand seal at the rear edge of the chute so that the batchmaterial drops off into the doghouse where it initially floats on themolten glass in the tank.

The forward edge of the charger plate has a downwardly-projectingwater-cooled lip thereacross, and depending on the angle at which theplate moves with respect to the horizontal on both its forward andreturn strokes, it pushes against and applies vertical components ofpressure to the accumulated mass of floating batch material in thedoghouse. Typically the plate may slope downwardly toward the glasslevel in the furnace at an angle of the order of 10 to from thehorizontal, but this may be more or less.

Instead of there being a single charging plate on a wide furnace thereare more often two charger plates side-by-side, and there may be morethan two. Each may have a separate drive for reciprocating it. Also itis not unusual to have the forward edge of the lower end of the chuteprovided with a plurality of verticallyadjustable gates. By adjustingthese gates up or down with respect to the charger plate the thicknessof the blanket on the charger plate can be regulated, and it may bethicker at some places across the plate than at others, or thicker onone plate than on the other or others.

While all continuous melting furnaces involve the feeding of the batchat one end of an elongate tank furnace and its removal as melted glassat the other with a fining zone between the two ends, the behavior ofany furnace cannot be predicted and the quality of the glass, itsclarity and the presence or absence of seeds or other imperfections isaffected by such behavior, as is also the fuel consumption. Two furnacesof identical construction may manifest unpredictable variations inperformance due to eddy currents, convective currents, flame flow andmany other factors which are perhaps unknown. Sometimes a change offeeding the batch material may result in a noticeable fuel economy. Itis because of this individuality of each furnace that two or more feedplates separately driven are favored in wide furnaces over a single wideplate, and is the reason for a series of adjustable gates across thehopper being preferred to a single adjustable gate. Adjustment of theinclination of the charger plate has heretofore also been provided, butthis change of inclination changed the clearance between the plate andthe bottom of the chute so as to impose practical limitations on itsutility, or require a shut-down of the charger when an adjustment wasneeded.

The present invention has for its principal object to give the furnaceoperator a much increased variation in the feed so as to further adjustto the idiosyncracies of a particular furnace. It provides anarrangement wherein the charger plate may slope at one angle at alltimes or advance at one angle and retract at another or in a horizontalplane or even be vibrated. It also provides an arrangement where withtwo or more charger plates each may be individually oscillated aboutvertical axes of rotation whereby their respective center lines at thetime of discharge may converge or diverge with respect to the centerline of the furnace and with respect to each other or be in parallelism.

Preferably both of these features are combined in a single structure,but they are not necessarily so combined.

According to our invention the hopper is unchanged but the charger plateis mounted on a reciprocable frame which in turn is supported in such amanner on a platform that the frame and charger plate are reciprocatedbeneath the chute and the drive for effecting the reciprocation thereofis also mounted on this platform. With multiple charger plates there arepreferably a multiple, two or more, such platforms side-by-side whichtogether extend across the full width of the doghouse. Each platform ishinged in a supporting frame under the hopper for'tilting aboutatransverse axis to thereby change the angle of the charging plate, andthe pivoting axis about which the platform tilts is directly under therear edge of the chute so that when the angle of slope of the chargingplate is changed, the vertical distance between the plate and the rearedge of the hopper remains substantially constant. Means, such as afluid pressure cylinder, is provided for selectively changing the angleof the platform. For example, in some furnaces the charging plate shouldslope downward toward the furnace on its forward stroke and retract on alevel plane so that the action of the depend ing water-cooled lip on theforward edge of the charging plate against the floating batch materialin the doghouse will be different than if the plate reciprocates in thesame plane in both directions.

The reciprocating motion of the plate is transmitted to the plate from apower-driven eccentric connected through linkage with the reciprocalframe or carriage structure. At each side of this frame is a fluidpressure cylinder unit fixed to the frame and pivoted to the adjacentcorner of the charger plate so that one cylinder ay be operated tothrust one corner of the charger plate forward while the other cornerpivots on a vertical axis so that the plate may first be thrust forward,and then, while it is at its most forward limit of travel one of saidfluid pressure cylinders may be operated to swivel the charger platerelative to the longitudinal axis of the furnace and thus change theangle of the forward edge of the depending water-cooled lip with respectto the accumulated batch material in the doghouse, much the same as aman with a paddle in the days of handfeeding could move some of theaccumulated charge in the doghouse relative to other such material. Thedirection of swing of the charger plate will depend on which of the twofluid pressure cylinders is activated.

Both of the foregoing options, that is, ready adjustment of the angle ofthe charger plate and/or change of its angle of slope on each cycle ofoperation and the swiveling of the plate about a generally verticalaxis, may be and usually are combined, as hereinafter described, buteither of these adjustments may be provided separately.

The invention may be more fully understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic vertical transverse section through ablanket batch charger embodying our invention wherein provision is madefor changing the angle of slope of the charging plate;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1 with the hopper removed but itsdischarge opening indicated in dotted lines;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the charger shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the rear of the apparatusshown in FIG. 3 but on a larger scale together with a schematic fluidpressure circuit;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 where the charger may selectivelyprovide both of the above-described options;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 embodying the arrangement of FIG. 2together with the second option of swiveling the charger plate;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section through a ball support for thecharging plate;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary transverse section on a larger scale of the sandseal and lower end of the chute.

Referring first to the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the feeder has asupporting base structure 2 mounted on casters 3, as is customary withmachines of this type for movement ofthe machine into and out ofoperating position adjacent the back wall T of the furnace tank. T isthe suspended rear wall of the furnace, the doghouse being designated D.In FIG. 1 the charger is in operating position with respect to thefurnace and the charger plate is in its retracted position.

The supporting base structure has two upright columns 4 at each sidethereof connected at their upper ends by side frame members 5 and thetops of the columns on one side are connected to the tops of the columnson the other side by a front channel section 6 and a rear angle section7. At the base of the columns there are lower side frame members 8 andcross members 9. This upright framework comprising the columns andconnection sections is here shown as having a series of metal strips 10on the base under the side frame members 8. This enables the frame to beadjusted vertically with respect to the rear wall T of the furnace tankwith which the charger is used simply by increasing or decreasing thenumber of spacing trips 10 at each side of the upright frame.

The frame supports a hopper '12 with a discharge chute 13 that slopesdownwardly and forwardly toward the furnace. Where the feeder is amultiple plate feeder as here shown, there are divider plates 13a in thehopper to direct the material into the discharge openings over eachplate. The width of the hopper from side to side is generally the fullwidth of the dog-house. The front wall of the chute has a plurality ofseparately adjustable gates 14 across it, each with adjusting linkagesand levers for raising and lowering them as indicated in the drawings,and which are commonly employed in the art.

All of the structure so far described is known and has heretofore beenused. According to a preferred embodiment of our invention there is aplatform 15 supported in the frame structure below the chute 13. It ispivotally supported in the frame structure near its forward end at theplace indicated as 16 and hereinafter described in detail.

Rearwardly of the pivots 16 the platform is supported on one or moreextensible and contractable support assemblies, each comprising a post20 adjustable vertically on a bracket 21 carried on the cross member 9at the rear of the bottom of the upright frame. The top of the post ispivotally connected at 22 with a fluid pressure piston and cylinder unit23 having a piston rod 24 pivotally connected to cars 24' on the underside of the platform 15. There are preferably two of these supportassemblies under each platform, one near each side. They provide twofunctions. First, by the screw adjustment of the post 20 on the bracket21, the platform may be held level or tilted to a selected angle, andthis is desirable even if the fluid pressure cylinder is not opcrated.Second, by operating the fluid pressure cylinder the platform may berocked up and down between a low position determined by the initialadjustment of the post 20 in the bracket and an'upper position when thepiston of the cylinder and piston unit 23 is at the upper limit oftravel in the cylinder. A preferred valving arrangement for operatingthe cylinder piston unit will be hereinafter described.

At each side of the platform 15 there is a vertical plate 25, each ofwhich carries a forward roller 26 and a rear roller 27. These rollersprovide a support for a reciprocable frame 28 having a bar 28a at eachside so arranged that each bar rests on a forward roller 26 and a rearroller 27. This frame has a rear cross bar 29 and a forward cross bar30. There are also hold-down rollers 28b above the bars 280. asindicated.

There is a composite charger plate 31 fixed on this frame 28 having arear section or plate 31a and a forward section or plate 31b. Section31b has a lip 32 thereon which may be, but is not necessarily a hollowwater-cooled nose piece. The lip is located under the forward edge ofplate 31b and depends from it. There is a water inlet pipe 32' thatdischarges cooling water across the width of the lip,- the lip havingone or more outlets through which the water is discharged. Watercooledlips of this character on charger plates are known in the art anddetails have not been shown.

The charger plate forms a bottom for the chute 13. The front wall of thechute with the adjustable gates 14 across it terminates above the plate31a. The rear wall of the chute has a plate (see FIG. 9)33 across itslower edge, the plate having bracket members 34 on its read edge withpivots 35 on adjustable brackets 36. The location of the pivots 35 withreference to the hopper plate 33 is such that the lower edge of plate 33is biased by gravity to bear at all times on the plate section 31a. Theplate 33 so biased isknown as the sand seal.It tends to scrape sand onthe platefree of the plate asthe plate moves on the back stroke of itsreciprocal travel.

In explanation of the pivot arrangement at 16, it will be noted (seeFIG. 3) that the side plates 25 which carry the supporting rollers 26and 27 each have a trunnion 40 projection laterally from its outer face.Each trunnion is engaged in a bearing 41 on pivoted arm 41a. There is athreaded post 42 supporting the free end'of this arm for adjusting thearm and the bearing up or down. Each such post passes through a bracket43on one of the upright frame members and by adjusting nuts on the postbelow and above the bracket, the height of the bearing 41 can bechanged. The bearings 41 can be adjusted vertically at the same time theposts 20 near the rear of the platform are adjusted in the samedirection and the platform 15 kept level while its height above the basecan be changed, and by adjusting one set of posts relative to the other,the slope of the platform '15 can be changed. It will be seen, however,that the bearing 41 provides a pivotal support that is always directlyunder the lower edge of the sand seal plate 33 so that when the platformdoes pivot, either by adjustment ofthe posts or by operation ofthepiston and cylinder unit 23, the charger plate will remain in contactwith the lower edge of the sand seal because the point of contact of thesand seal with plate 31 is substantially coincident with the axis aboutwhich the platform tilts on trunnions 40.

Each platform 15 has an electric motor 45 suspended therefrom with apulley 46 around which passes a belt 47 that drives a pulley 48 of areducing gear indicated at 49. This reducing gear drives a horizontalshaft 50. There is an adjustable eccentric crank assembly 51 of a wellknown type at each end of this shaft 50 pivotally connected at 53through an adjustable link 52 to the rear of the rear cross bar 29 atthe rear of the reciprocable frame on which the charger plate iscarried. By increasing or decreasing the eccentricity of the crank andcorrespondingly increasing or decreasing the length of the adjustablelink 52 the length of the stroke or extent of reciprocal travel of thecharger plate can be varied. On its forward travel the charger platecarries a layer or blanket of batch material out from under the chute ofa thickness controlled by the distance between the plate and theadjustable gates at the front of the chute. When the charger plateretracts this material is crowded or pushed off into the dog-house overwhich the charger plate projects. Therefore the length of the strokecontrols the amount of material charged into the furnace on each stroke.

It has been pointed out that the water-cooled lip 32 at the forward endof the charger plate stirs or puddles the accumulated material in thedog-house and that its angle of advance and withdrawal, as well as theamount of feed on each stroke and frequency of stroke is an importantfactor in securing optimum performance of the furnace.

In addition to the eccentric cranks 51 on the shaft 50 there is a cam 55on this shaft. There is a fixed cam follower 56 that cooperates withthis cam to operate a switch 57. The operation of this switch controlsan electromagnetically-operated four-way valve unit 58 (see FIG. 4)through which fluid pressure, preferably compressed air, is supplied toone end or the other of 'the cylinder-piston units 23 to change theslope of the frame 28 and the charger plate supported thereby in timedrelation to the travel of the charger plate and thus modify the puddlingaction of the water-cooled lip.

Typically, at least on some furnaces, the charger plate will moveforward at a fairly steep angle, then be lowered at the forward limit ofits travel to a generally level or'horizontal'position and retracted tobe raised again the platform '15, making it unnecessary to change theposition of the sand seal each time the angle of the charger plate ischanged.

With the arrangement as herein described wherein the charger plate andthe drive for reciprocating it are both carried on a tilting platform itbecomes possible to change the slope of the charger plate while thefeeder is operating and to oscillate the feeder in a vertical arc in themanner described with each operating cycle of the charger plate but theoperation of the cylinder and piston unit one or more times with eachcycle of travel of the charger plate is optional. It is importantmoveover that by pivoting said platform close to and under the sand sealthe change of the angle of travel of the charger plate requires noadjustment of the sand seal at the rear edge of the chute that depositsthe material on the charger plate. The relation of the charger platewith respect to adjustable gates at the forward edge of the chute doeschange with a change in slope of the platform and charger plate but thisposes no problem since the change usually takes place when the chargerplate is at one limit or the other of its travel or adjustment of thegates may quickly be made to compensate for any increase or decrease inthe amount of batch material because of a change of angle at someparticular time in the cycle.

Our invention further contemplates that the charger plates may beswiveled about an axis normal to the plane of the charger plate,preferably in conjunction with the above-described arrangement orseparately therefrom. This phase of our invention is hereinafterdescribed in detail as a further modification of the structure abovedescribed but may be embodied in a conventional blanket type feederwhether it has the tilting platform arrangement here described or not.

As herein described and shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 the frame, hopper, andtiltable platform are substantially the same as the constructionherebefore described and the same reference numerals indicate thecorresponding parts.

In this arrangement the reciprocable frame 60 corresponds to thereciprocable frame 28 of the construction first described and it isreciprocated in the same manner by two adjustable cranks 62, one at eachend of shaft 63 and adjustable links 64, that connect the cranks withrear frame bar 65. This shaft extends from each side of a centrallypositioned gear box 66 and there is a driving motor 67 transmittingpower to the gear box through a belt or chain 68. The platform in thiscase has a roller 15 near its forward end on which the front or lowerend of the reciprocable frame 60 is supported for back and forth travel.This roller replaces the rollers 26 and 27 in the form previouslydescribed.

At each side of the reciprocable frame 60, that is, at each end of therear cross bar 65 of the frame 60 there is a rearwardly-projectingextension 70. The composite charger plate is designated 71 and it has across bar 72 of angle section at its rear end. The cross bar 72 has aslotted extension 73 thereon that rests on the extension 70 of thereciprocable frame and a roller 74 on the extension 70 has a working fitin slot 75 of the extension 73. The cross bar 72 of the charger plateassembly also has a lug 76 thereon above its extension 73 at each end ofthe bar 72. A clevis 77 is pivotally connected at 78 with this lug. Theclevis 77 is on the end of a piston rod 79 having a piston (not shown)in a fluid pressure cylinder 80. The end of the cylinder 80 opposite theone from which the piston rod extends is pivotally anchored at 81 to abracket 82 on the rear end of the frame extension 70.

By energizing the cylinder 80 at one side of the frame while the otherone is not operated, one rear corner of the charger plate can be pulledbackward, relatively to the other and thereby oscillate the chargerplate about one pivot 78 or the other on an axis normal to the surfaceof the charger plate, and thereby position the water-cooled lip 84 atthe forward end of the charger plate diagonally with respect to thedog-house, as indicated in FIG. 6. By alternating the operation of onecylinder 80 and then the other, the water-cooled nose may be oscillatedover the dog-house.

To facilitate the swiveling motion of the charger plate, particularlynear its forward end where the amplitude of oscillation is greatest,there are balls 85 in retaining sockets 86 on the front and theunderside of the charger plate has a bearing plate 87 fixed thereto, oneof them being positioned to ride on each ball. It is contemplated thatthe balls 85 be made of dense carbon to withstand the high temperatureover the dog-house and adjacent thereto and still rotate freely. Usuallythe arc of movement of the charger plate will not exceed about l0 eachside of a centered position, but the exact range may be adjusted asfurther research with differtion with FIG. 4. Here, however, there is,in addition, a selector valve 94 such as a two-way valve which may beeither manually or automatically operated to effect the operation ofeither one of the cylinders while the other is held inactive. Also theremay be provided a remote control for all functions where there aremultiple plates that operate moreor less sequentially, similar to remotecontrol timers now used with multiple plate feeders.

The invention provides a method of an apparatus for feeding batchmaterials from a hopper wherein the slope of the charger plate may bechanged without changing the relation between the charger plate and thesand seal. Further, it selectively enables the slope of the chargerplate to be changed during operation and even during each cycle ofoperation. In addition or alternatively, it provides an arrangementwherein each charger plate may swivel relatively to the dog-house eithertoward or away from the center line of the machine or even alternately.While accomplishing these functions, it does in some respects simplifythe overall construction of the feeder especially by mounting thecharger plate and its drives and plate operating means all on the samesupporting platform.

We claim: 7

l. A blanket type batch feeder for glass melting furnaces wherein thereis a main supporting frame with a batch delivery chute therein, and areciprocable charger plate under the delivery chute, there being a sandseal on the rear wall of the chute having a lower edge in slidingcontact with the charger plate, the invention comprising:

a. support means pivotally supported in the main frame for supportingthe charger plate beneath the chute to effect pivoting motion about ahorizontal axis whereby the slope of the support and charger plate withreference to the chute may be changed, said axis being so located withrespect to the lower edge of the sand seal that the change of angle ofthe charger plate with respect to the lower edge of said seal remainsconstant b. and means on said support means arranged to reciprocate thecharger plate at any angle of slope to which it is adjusted.

2. A blanket type batch feeder as defined in claim 1 wherein saidsupport means comprises a platform structure under the charger platehung from pivoted mounting means in the main frame in a position wherethe axis of tilt of the charger plate coincides with the lower edge ofthe sand seal.

3. A blanket type batch feeder as defined in claim 2 wherein there ismeans operatively interposed between the main frame and the platform forchanging the angle of slope of the platform about said pivotal mountingand thereby change the angle of slope of the charger plate.

4. A blanket type batch feeder as defined in claim 3 wherein said lastnamed means comprises means for varying the slope of the charger plateduring each back and forth cycle of operation thereof.

5. A blanket type batch feeder as defined in claim 4 wherein said meansfor varying the slope of the platform and charger plate is a fluidpressure cylinder and piston unit with one element of said unitpivotally attached to the main frame and one to said platform rearwardlyof the axis about which the platform pivots.

6. A blanket type batch feeder as defined in claim 4 in which said meansfor reciprocating the charger plate also controls the operation of saidmeans for varying the slope of charger plate during each back and forthcycle of operation said charger plate.

7. A blanket type batch feeder as defined in claim I in which thecharger plate is carried on a reciprocable frame which in turn iscarried on said support means and the support means comprises a platformthat is below the charger plate and frame but which is suspended from apivotal mounting in the main supporting frame the pivotal axis of whichis traverse the path of reciprocable travel of the charger plate in aline directly under the lower edge of said sand seal.

8. A blanket type batch feeder as defined in claim 7 wherein the chargeplate is mounted on said reciprocable frame for swiveling movement abouta pivoting axis normal to the surface of said plate, and means foreffecting such swiveling motion of the plate relative to the frame.

9. A blanket type batch feeder as defined in claim 8 wherein there arecooperating means on the reciprocable frame and the charger plate forselectively effecting such swiveling movement of the charger plate.

10. A blanket type batch feeder as defined in claim 9 wherein thecharger plate has a pivotal connection with the reciprocable framesliding at each rear corner thereof and there is a fluid pressurecylinder and piston connection operatively interposed between each rearcorner of the charger plate and the reciprocable frame whereby thecharger plate may be selectively swiveled about the pivot unit at theother corner.

11. In a blanket type batch feeder for glass melting furnaces having amain supporting frame in which there is a batch feeding chuteterminating directly above a charger plate that is reciprocated in afore and aft direction under the chute with respect to the furnace withwhich it is used with the charger plate being always directly below thebatch feeding chute, the invention comprising:

a. a reciprocable frame on which the charger plate is carried back andforth under the batch feeding chute,

b. means for reciprocating said frame, and

c. a pivoted connection between the charger plate and the reciprocableframe about which the charger plate may be swiveled in a plane at rightangles to the direction of travel of the reciprocable frame.

12. A blanket type batch feeder as defined in claim 1 1 wherein there isa power-operated means for effecting the swiveling movement of thecharger plate relative to the reciprocable frame.

13. A blanket type batch feeder as defined in claim 1 1 wherein thecharger plate is pivoted on the reciprocable frame in such manner thatis may be swiveled to either side of the line of travel of thereciprocable frame.

14. A blanket type of batch feeder as defined in claim 11 wherein thecharger plate is connected to the reciprocal frame by pivot means ateach rear corner so arranged that the plate may be swiveled about eitherpivot means, and a fluid pressure means at each rear corner of thecharger plate connected to the reciprocable frame whereby the chargerplate may be selectively swiveled in one direction or the other by theselective operation of fluid pressure means at one corner or the otherby operation of one or the other of said fluid pressure means.

15. A blanket type of batch feeder as defined in claim 1 1 wherein saidreciprocal frame is supported for tilting adjustment of the reciprocableframe and charger plate about a transverse axis to change the angle ofslope of the charger plate relative to the main supporting frame.

1. A blanket type batch feeder for glass melting furnaces wherein thereis a main supporting frame with a batch delivery chute therein, and areciprocable charger plate under the delivery chute, there being a sandseal on the rear wall of the chute having a lower edge in slidingcontact with the charger plate, the invention comprising: a. supportmeans pivotally supported in the main frame for supporting the chargerplate beneath the chute to effect pivoting motion about a horizontalaxis whereby the slope of the support and charger plate with referenceto the chute may be changed, said axis being so located with respect tothe lower edge of the sand seal that the change of angle of the chargerplate with respect to the lower edge of said seal remains constant b.and means on said support means arranged to reciprocate the chargerplate at any angle of slope to which it is adjusted.
 2. A blanket typebatch feeder as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means comprisesa platform structure under the charger plate hung from pivoted mountingmeans in the main frame in a position where the axis of tilt of thecharger plate Coincides with the lower edge of the sand seal.
 3. Ablanket type batch feeder as defined in claim 2 wherein there is meansoperatively interposed between the main frame and the platform forchanging the angle of slope of the platform about said pivotal mountingand thereby change the angle of slope of the charger plate.
 4. A blankettype batch feeder as defined in claim 3 wherein said last named meanscomprises means for varying the slope of the charger plate during eachback and forth cycle of operation thereof.
 5. A blanket type batchfeeder as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for varying the slope ofthe platform and charger plate is a fluid pressure cylinder and pistonunit with one element of said unit pivotally attached to the main frameand one to said platform rearwardly of the axis about which the platformpivots.
 6. A blanket type batch feeder as defined in claim 4 in whichsaid means for reciprocating the charger plate also controls theoperation of said means for varying the slope of charger plate duringeach back and forth cycle of operation said charger plate.
 7. A blankettype batch feeder as defined in claim 1 in which the charger plate iscarried on a reciprocable frame which in turn is carried on said supportmeans and the support means comprises a platform that is below thecharger plate and frame but which is suspended from a pivotal mountingin the main supporting frame the pivotal axis of which is traverse thepath of reciprocable travel of the charger plate in a line directlyunder the lower edge of said sand seal.
 8. A blanket type batch feederas defined in claim 7 wherein the charge plate is mounted on saidreciprocable frame for swiveling movement about a pivoting axis normalto the surface of said plate, and means for effecting such swivelingmotion of the plate relative to the frame.
 9. A blanket type batchfeeder as defined in claim 8 wherein there are cooperating means on thereciprocable frame and the charger plate for selectively effecting suchswiveling movement of the charger plate.
 10. A blanket type batch feederas defined in claim 9 wherein the charger plate has a pivotal connectionwith the reciprocable frame sliding at each rear corner thereof andthere is a fluid pressure cylinder and piston connection operativelyinterposed between each rear corner of the charger plate and thereciprocable frame whereby the charger plate may be selectively swiveledabout the pivot unit at the other corner.
 11. In a blanket type batchfeeder for glass melting furnaces having a main supporting frame inwhich there is a batch feeding chute terminating directly above acharger plate that is reciprocated in a ''''fore'''' and ''''aft''''direction under the chute with respect to the furnace with which it isused with the charger plate being always directly below the batchfeeding chute, the invention comprising: a. a reciprocable frame onwhich the charger plate is carried back and forth under the batchfeeding chute, b. means for reciprocating said frame, and c. a pivotedconnection between the charger plate and the reciprocable frame aboutwhich the charger plate may be swiveled in a plane at right angles tothe direction of travel of the reciprocable frame.
 12. A blanket typebatch feeder as defined in claim 11 wherein there is a power-operatedmeans for effecting the swiveling movement of the charger plate relativeto the reciprocable frame.
 13. A blanket type batch feeder as defined inclaim 11 wherein the charger plate is pivoted on the reciprocable framein such manner that is may be swiveled to either side of the line oftravel of the reciprocable frame.
 14. A blanket type of batch feeder asdefined in claim 11 wherein the charger plate is connected to thereciprocal frame by pivot means at each rear corner so arranged that theplate may be swiveled about either pivot means, and a fluid pressuremeans at each rear corner of the charger plate connected to thereciprocable frame whereby thE charger plate may be selectively swiveledin one direction or the other by the selective operation of fluidpressure means at one corner or the other by operation of one or theother of said fluid pressure means.
 15. A blanket type of batch feederas defined in claim 11 wherein said reciprocal frame is supported fortilting adjustment of the reciprocable frame and charger plate about atransverse axis to change the angle of slope of the charger platerelative to the main supporting frame.